Descendants of the Sun
Drama guideEnded

Descendants of the Sun

태양의 후예

A fateful encounter lighting breakup but… destiny never give up.

Air date: 2016-02-24
Episodes: 16 ep
Network: KBS2
Rating: 8.4 / 10
Cast entries
21
Episodes
16
Locations
Not available for this drama
Food stops
Not available for this drama
Story

Synopsis

A concise overview of the premise, tone, and dramatic setup.

A chance encounter in a hospital instantly connects an ardent soldier and a gifted surgeon. Their magnetic attraction is quickly overshadowed by fundamental differences: his fiery devotion to protecting others collides with her calm, methodical dedication to saving lives. These opposing philosophies tear them apart, leaving a rift that seems unbridgeable. Yet, as distance grows, fate quietly conspires to bring them back together, refusing to let their story end.

Source: TMDB

Discovery

More to explore

Step beyond this drama — explore filming sites, food spots, and related titles across the catalog.

Details

Production

Broadcast details, runtime, language, and key production credits.

Country
KR
Original language
KO
Episode runtime
60 min
Spoken languages
English, Korean
Production companies
  • Studio & NewStudio & New
Creators
Baek Sang-Hoon백상훈
Lee Eung-bok이응복
Directors
Lee Eung-bok이응복
Baek Sang-Hoon백상훈
Yoo Jong-sun
Yoo Young-eun유영은
Writers
Kim Eun-sook김은숙
Kim Won-suk

Source: TMDB

Characters

Cast & characters

Key roles, performers, and character context for quick scanning.

  • Kang Mo-yeon
    Kang Mo-yeon
    강모연
    Song Hye-kyo송혜교

    Kang Mo-yeon is a thoracic surgery specialist and professor in the VIP ward, and the lover of soldier Yoo Si-jin.

  • Yoo Shi-jin
    Yoo Shi-jin
    유시진
    Song Joong-ki송중기

    He is the company commander of the Mourou Company in the Taebaek Unit and the leader of Alpha Team. He is also Mo-yeon’s lover.

  • Yoon Myung-joo
    Yoon Myung-joo
    윤명주
    Kim Ji-won김지원

    Yoon Myung-joo is a 32-year-old orthopedic specialist serving as a military doctor dispatched to the Taebaek unit.

  • Seo Dae-young
    Seo Dae-young
    서대영
    Jin Goo진구

    Seo Dae-young is a 35-year-old deputy commander of the Moureu company in the Taebaek unit.

  • Lee Chi-hoon
    Lee Chi-hoon
    이치훈
    Onew온유

    A 28-year-old first-year thoracic surgery resident, Lee Chi-hoon is the sheltered youngest son of a prestigious family. Since medical school his role model has been Father Lee Tae-seok, and he dreams of joining Doctors Without Borders as a Schweitzer-like doctor.

  • Lieutenant General Yoon
    Lieutenant General Yoon
    윤길준
    Kang Shin-il강신일

    He is the commander of the Army Special Warfare Command and the father of Yoon Myung-joo.

  • Daniel Spencer
    Daniel Spencer
    Cho Tae-kwan조태관
  • Jin Young-soo
    Jin Young-soo
    진영수
    Jo Jae-yun조재윤
  • Doctor Pyo
    Doctor Pyo
    표지수
    Hyun Jyu-ni현쥬니

    A 34-year-old pathologist, Pyo is Mo-yeon’s college friend who, despite her rough way of speaking, has always cherished and understood her more than anyone.

  • Ri Ye-hwa
    Ri Ye-hwa
    Jeon Soo-jin
  • Song Sang-hyun
    Song Sang-hyun
    송상현
    Lee Seung-joon이승준

    Song Sang-hyun is a 37-year-old general surgery specialist.

  • Kim Ki-bum
    Kim Ki-bum
    김기범
    Kim Min-seok김민석

    Kim Ki-bum is a 20-year-old deputy platoon leader serving in the Mouru Company of the Taebaek Unit.

  • Sergeant Im Gwang-nam
    Sergeant Im Gwang-nam
    임광남
    Ahn Bo-hyun안보현

    A 26-year-old special forces Alpha Team member who specializes in demolitions and firearms.

  • Argus
    Argus
    아구스
    David Lee McInnis데이비드 맥기니스
  • Kang Min-jae
    Kang Min-jae
    강민재
    Lee Yi-kyung이이경
  • Park Byung-soo
    Park Byung-soo
    박병수
    Kim Byong-chul김병철

    At 43, he serves as the battalion commander of the Taebaek Unit and the operations commander of Alpha Team.

Source: TMDB

Some bios contain text adapted from the Korean Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted text is modified and is also licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Actors

Lead actors

Lead performer biographies and notable credits.

Song Hye-kyo

Song Hye-kyoas Kang Mo-yeon

송혜교as 강모연
1981-11-22 · Daegu, South Korea

Song Hye-kyo (born November 22, 1981) is a South Korean actress whose leading television dramas have consistently become both national and international sensations. She starred Autumn in My Heart (2000), which captivated audiences across Asia, and made her a household name at age 19. Song quickly solidified her star power with high-stakes gambling drama, All In (2003), and the mega-hit, romantic-comedy Full House (2004). That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013) earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of a blind heiress, while Descendants of the Sun (2016) became a monumental success with a peak viewership rating of 41.6% in South Korea and in Asia, where it was viewed 2.5 billion times. Throughout her career, Song has won numerous prestigious acting awards, including multiple Grand Prizes (Daesang), the highest honor in Korean television. In 2023, Song took on her first-ever revenge thriller in The Glory, a role that earned her both critical and commercial success. The Glory became a global phenomenon, hitting No. 1 on global streaming charts and solidifying its place as one of the year’s most-watched shows. Her portrayal of a complex, vengeful character earned her the prestigious Best Actress award at the Baeksang Arts Awards. Through her work, Song has solidified her legacy as a trailblazer in the Korean Wave (Hallyu), setting the stage for the worldwide success of K-dramas today.

Song Joong-ki

Song Joong-kias Yoo Shi-jin

송중기as 유시진
1985-09-19 · Daejeon, South Korea

Song Joong-ki (Hangul: 송중기; born September 19, 1985) is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame in the historical drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010) and the variety show Running Man as one of the original cast members when it premiered in 2010. Song played his first TV leading role in the melodrama The Innocent Man (2012). He has also starred in feature films, notably as the title character in the box office hit A Werewolf Boy (2012). After completing his mandatory military service, Song took on the lead role in the pan-Asia hit drama Descendants of the Sun (2016), which drew a peak audience share of 38.8% in South Korea and established him as a top Hallyu star. He placed 7th in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list in 2013, and ranked 2nd in 2017.

Kim Ji-won

Kim Ji-wonas Yoon Myung-joo

김지원as 윤명주
1992-10-19 · Seoul, South Korea

Kim Ji-won (Hangul: 김지원; Hanja: 金智媛; born October 19, 1992) is a South Korean actress. She gained attention through her roles in television series To the Beautiful You (2012), The Heirs (2013), Descendants of the Sun (2016), and Fight For My Way (2017).

Notable credits on this site
Jin Goo

Jin Gooas Seo Dae-young

진구as 서대영
1980-07-20 · Seoul, South Korea

Jin Goo (born July 20, 1980) is a South Korean actor. He won Best Supporting Actor at the Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards for his role in Bong Joon-ho's 2009 noir thriller Mother. He is also best known for his role in the critically and commercially successful series Descendants of the Sun.

Notable credits on this site
Onew

Onewas Lee Chi-hoon

온유as 이치훈
1989-12-14 · Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi, South Korea

Onew (온유) is a South Korean singer, lyricist and actor under GRIFFIN Entertainment. He is the leader of the boy group SHINee. He made his solo debut on December 5, 2018 with his first mini album Voice.Onew (온유) is a South Korean singer, lyricist and actor under GRIFFIN Entertainment. He is the leader of the boy group SHINee. He made his solo debut on December 5, 2018 with his first mini album Voice.

Notable credits on this site

Source: TMDB

Streaming

Where to watch

Availability is grouped by country and provider type.

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  • OnDemandKorea
  • Kocowa Amazon Channel
  • Kocowa

Streaming data via JustWatch through TMDB.

Episode guide

Episodes

Episode stills, air dates, runtimes, and summaries.

  1. Will You Be My Doctor?
    Ep 1Will You Be My Doctor?
    2016-02-24 · 60 min

    While on vacation after a sensitive military operation, soldier Si-jin senses a connection with Mo-yeon, a beautiful and strong-willed surgeon.

  2. We Bump Into Each Other While Passing By
    Ep 2We Bump Into Each Other While Passing By
    2016-02-25 · 60 min

    Si-jin and Dae-young engage in a perilous operation in Afghanistan, while Mo-yeon assists in surgery. Later, Si-jin and Mo-yeon take in a movie.

  3. How Have You Been?
    Ep 3How Have You Been?
    2016-03-02 · 60 min

    Si-jin and Alpha Team join Mo-yeon and the doctors in Urk. Meanwhile, Myung-ju doesn't like how her father, Lt. Gen. Yoon, treats Dae-young.

  4. I Will Find a Way to Drink
    Ep 4I Will Find a Way to Drink
    2016-03-03 · 60 min

    Tempers flare over a dying man when Mo-yeon insists she can save the patient's life. Meanwhile, Dae-young and Myung-ju reunite at the airport.

  5. What Should I Do About the Kiss
    Ep 5What Should I Do About the Kiss
    2016-03-09 · 60 min

    After sharing a moment, Mo-yeon isn't sure what to think about her relationship with Si-jin. Later, Si-jin receives a panicked phone call.

  6. I Shouldn't Have Received His Apology
    Ep 6I Shouldn't Have Received His Apology
    2016-03-10 · 59 min

    After a powerful earthquake strikes Urk, the country descends into chaos. It's up to the medical team and soldiers to search for survivors.

  7. I Missed You
    Ep 7I Missed You
    2016-03-16 · 59 min

    In the earthquake's aftermath, heartbreaking decisions must be made by Si-jin and Mo-yeon, who both strive to save as many people as possible.

  8. Comfort the Deceased With a Silent Prayer
    Ep 8Comfort the Deceased With a Silent Prayer
    2016-03-17 · 60 min

    When an aftershock strikes, Mo-yeon sees firsthand just how dangerous Si-jin's job can be. Later, an old phone message is accidentally broadcast.

  9. That Wasn't Me
    Ep 9That Wasn't Me
    2016-03-23 · 60 min

    Mo-yeon is embarrassed after her unintentional confession, but Si-jin isn't about to let her off the hook. Meanwhile, a visitor makes everyone nervous.

  10. You Got A Parcel From Shin Ji Young
    Ep 10You Got A Parcel From Shin Ji Young
    2016-03-24 · 60 min

    Dae-young is rattled after seeing an old nemesis, Mo-yeon shares a dark dinner with Si-jin, and an unusual package arrives from home.

  11. Who on Earth Stole It?
    Ep 11Who on Earth Stole It?
    2016-03-30 · 60 min

    While Dae-young and Myung-ju remain quarantined, the rest of the team fights the epidemic. Meanwhile, the supply truck with the cure disappears.

  12. As of This Moment, Everyone Will Return to Team Alpha
    Ep 12As of This Moment, Everyone Will Return to Team Alpha
    2016-03-31 · 59 min

    Dae-young has a bad feeling about Si-jin's solo mission into Agus's hideout. Mo-yeon wonders if she's capable of dealing with Si-jin's secrecy.

  13. You're Not My Director Any More
    Ep 13You're Not My Director Any More
    2016-04-06 · 59 min

    The medical team returns to their regular lives, but something's off. Meanwhile, Mo-yeon makes a bold career move, and Dae-young faces a tough choice.

  14. The Movie We Missed
    Ep 14The Movie We Missed
    2016-04-07 · 58 min

    After a patient is rushed to the hospital, Mo-yeon is shocked to see who is in need of care. Meanwhile, a microchip reveals unexpected information.

  15. I Will Stay Alive
    Ep 15I Will Stay Alive
    2016-04-13 · 60 min

    Si-jin and Mo-yeon spend some much deserved time together. Dae-young and Myung-ju continue to have communication problems. Devastating news arrives.

  16. This Is Unbelievable
    Ep 16This Is Unbelievable
    2016-04-14 · 60 min

    Mo-yeon and Myung-ju learn that not everything is what it seems. Meanwhile, a promotion is cause for celebration, and a trip reignites old passions.

Source: TMDB

Media

Videos

Trailers, OST, interviews, making clips, reviews, and recommendations.

Trailers & teasers

OST

Interviews & making-of

Reviews & recommendations

Source: YouTube

References

Sources

Visible attribution for the editorial content.